An Arizona State University officer involved in the arrest of an ASU professor in a video that went viral has been placed on leave

By PoliceOne Staff

TEMPE, Ariz. — An Arizona State University officer involved in the arrest of an ASU professor in a video that went viral has been placed on leave, and the school is asking for an FBI investigation.

AZ Central reports that Officer Stewart Ferrin, despite being previously cleared of any misconduct, has been placed on paid leave. The university wants assistance from the FBI to determine if any civil rights violations occurred during the incident.

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The professor, Ersula Ore, was stopped and later arrested May 20 after failing to provide identification after officers witnessed her jaywalking on the ASU campus.

As the incident escalated, Ore reportedly kicked Officer Ferrin in the shin.

Ore, was charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, refusing to provide identification when requested to do so by an officer and obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare, the NY Daily News previously reported.

A local civil rights group has protested the arrest and called for Ferrin’s resignation on the basis of alleged racial profiling.